Four Catandunganons were in the top 10 of the September 2025 Psychometrician’s Licensure Examination, according to the results released last week by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).
Tied for 5th along with four others is Adriann Duane Quintana Villamor of Panganiban town, who graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) College of Science with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
At 8th place is Preciliza Joy P. Ortega, with Czar Anthony T. Teves a rung below at 9th while at 10th is Michal A. Velasco.
Villamor is the son of Provincial Board Member Tito V. Villamor and Viga District Hospital Chief Nurse Ma. Cecilia Q. Villamor, and brother to Tiffany Jane and Ma. Cecilia Andrea.
After graduating from Panganiban Central Elementary School as first honor, he studied at the CSU Laboratory High School at CAIC campus for a year and transferred to Panganiban National High School where he graduated with highest honors.
For senior high school, he went to UST where he finished his secondary education with honors.
Villamor said he plans to pursue medicine at UST starting next year.
A valedictorian during her elementary years, Ortega spent most of her childhood at the Catanduanes State University Laboratory Schools until junior high.
Like Villamor, she transferred to UST for Senior High and graduated with honors before taking up Psychology at Far Eastern University where she earned magna cum laude honors.
She is the daughter of James A. Ortega Jr. and Lilibeth P. Ortega of Cavinitan, Virac, and has Demi James and Jamiebeth as siblings.
“As for my future plans, it is actually a privilege right now to be worried about choices and options po. So right now, I am still in the middle of exploring opportunities and accepting them as they come,” Preciliza told the Tribune.
Ninth-placer Czar Anthony is the son of San Miguel Mayor Antonio T. Teves and ARDCI Finance and Administration Unit Director Evelyn T. Teves.
Also a cum laude graduate of Psychology at UST, he is an alumnus of CatSU Laboratory Schools from elementary to junior high school and attended Ateneo de Naga University for his senior high school.
Asked about what he desires to do, he said: “Quite frankly, I don’t have everything mapped out yet. For future plans, i’m still figuring it out bit by bit. I’m currently in a season of exploring every opportunity that there is. For now, I’m leaning towards practicing my profession.”
A cum laude graduate of Bicol University, Michal is the daughter of Victor A. Velasco and Marites A. Velasco.
She is a product of Virac Pilot Elementary School (Division Pilot Special Sciences and Math Class) and Catanduanes National High School (STEM).
Michal desires to work and then obtain a Master’s degree in psychology before taking the board exam for registered psychologists.
For comparison, psychometricians create. evaluate tests and assessment tools used by psychologists to measure and observe behavior.
Aside from this, they create employment and certification or credentialing applications while some work closely with clinical psychologists to administer and evaluate psychological assessments for psychological and psychiatric conditions.
Their roles require considerable research experience to allow better understanding of pedagogical effectiveness, fairness in hiring practices, and greater refinement of treatment or action plan development.